Newsroom
Cyprus will officially launch the CY-Alert emergency warning system on June 2, giving authorities the ability to send instant alerts directly to mobile phones during dangerous situations such as wildfires or other emergencies. The project is part of the government’s effort to modernize civil protection and improve public safety across the country.
Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou announced that the system will begin operating next week, while test exercises will take place over a three-week period to confirm that everything works properly in real conditions. During these tests, people may receive warning messages in both Greek and English, along with a loud alert sound and strong vibration.
The system can send notifications to anyone located within Cyprus, regardless of their mobile provider or where their SIM card was issued. Officials explained that the alerts will appear even if users do not have internet access or mobile data enabled, and the warning sound can activate even when phones are on silent mode.
According to the government, CY-Alert is designed to provide immediate instructions to the public during emergencies and help guide people toward safe actions. Authorities say the platform will work alongside existing communication methods such as television, radio, and warning sirens.
The launch comes as Cyprus prepares for the summer fire season. Officials said several preventive measures are already underway, including evacuation drills in communities across the island and cleanup operations near villages and rural areas considered vulnerable to fires. The government has allocated €3.1 million to local authorities for clearing abandoned agricultural land around communities as part of these fire prevention efforts.
Civil Defence teams have also completed hundreds of training sessions with local councils and updated emergency response plans tailored to different regions of the country.
Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nikodemos Damianou said Cyprus is now the 16th European country to adopt the EU-Alert standard. The technology behind CY-Alert relies on Cell Broadcast systems rather than SMS messaging. Officials explained that this method allows alerts to be transmitted directly from mobile towers to all phones within a selected area without being affected by network congestion.
Damianou also revealed that Apple released a special software update for Cyprus to ensure the system functions correctly on iPhones before the official launch.
Citizens seeking technical guidance or information about the service will be able to contact the government support line at 1450 starting May 27.
